Handheld medication dosage calculator

Abstract

A handheld medication dosage calculator (100) and method for comparing an inputted, ordered medication dosage with a known medication dosage range in a database including an input device for inputting a desired drug name, indicating whether the drug is for a child or an adult, an amount of the drugs that are ordered, the body weight or body surface of the patient, an amount of drug available in standard packaging, and the available volume associated with the available drug and a computing mechanism for determining the dosage of the drug to be delivered. The handheld medication dosage calculator (100) provides warnings when the inputted amount of drug exceeds the dose range limits or is incorrect. The handheld medication dosage calculator (100) converts an inputted drug unit of measure into a desired unit of measure. The handheld medication dosage calculator (100) lists generic drug names, trademarked product names, drug classifications and cautionary drug warning information.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of prior Provisional Application Nos. 60 / 315,145 and 60 / 335,684, filed 27 Aug. 2001 and 31 Oct. 2001, respectively.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to medical computers and handheld medical calculators and, more specifically, an apparatus and method for calculating medication dosages and for comparing an ordered, inputted dosage with a database having a recommended known medication dosage range and for providing cautions and warnings for the administration of a particular medication.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TART[0003]The incidence of medication errors is a widely known problem in the medical industry. Most medications that are administered in the institutional setting are carefully checked for: 1) a correct physician order according to known drug dosage ranges; 2) a correct drug dosage calculation of the amount ordered per the amount available in standard packaging; and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is an improved handheld medication dosage calculator that allows users to input the desired drug, its dosage, and the patient's body weight or body surface area. The calculator automatically determines the appropriate dosage and provides warnings when the inputted amount exceeds the dosage range limits or is incorrect. The invention also allows users to input the drug measurement units and provides an intuitive input for the information. The technical effects of the invention include improved accuracy in calculating medication dosages, increased safety, and improved user experience."

Problems solved by technology

The incidence of medication errors is a widely known problem in the medical industry.

However, there are times when this system of checking medications in the pharmacy before dispensing the medication to the nursing unit is not feasible.

Although the calculations are usually performed on a standard handheld mathematical calculator, there remains room for a high margin of error.

Second, the equations often require conversion of various dimensional units (e.g., micrograms to milligrams, pounds to kilograms and so forth).

This device does not link the input calculations with a drug database and does not provide a warning or a caution notification when an incorrect input has been entered.

Although the device does complete the required calculation for the user, it does not provide the user with an on-screen, intuitive format for entering input data.

As a result, there is very little improvement over a standard calculator.

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